New Zealand will be without their star batter Kane Williamson for the upcoming two-match Test series against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo.
Kane Williamson to miss Zimbabwe Tests
The former New Zealand skipper, who declined a central contract for the second consecutive year to focus on playing overseas during the summer, has made himself unavailable for the upcoming Tests against Zimbabwe. Williamson joined Middlesex for the 2025 season, and will be playing in both the Vitality Blast and the County Championship.
He is available for at least ten T20 fixtures for Middlesex and at least five County Championship games in the second half of the season. His deal also includes playing for the London Spirit in The Hundred. Williamson has, thus far, played nine games in the Vitality Blast, making 234 runs at 33.42 and a strike rate of 145.
With his stint with Middlesex clashing with the Zimbabwe series, beginning on July 30, Williamson chose to opt out.
Jamieson, Bracewell also unavailable for Zimbabwe Tests
Joining Williamson on the unavailable list is allrounder Michael Bracewell, currently playing for MI New York in Major League Cricket. Bracewell, who has signed up with Southern Brave for the Hundred, also had his commitments pre-approved and built into his NZC central contract. It thus made him unavailable for selection for the upcoming series.
New Zealand will also miss the services of fast bowlers Kyle Jamieson and Ben Sears. Jamieson is on a personal break as he awaits the birth of his first child, while Sears is sidelined due to a side strain sustained during the MLC and will require a few more weeks of rehabilitation.
Fast bowler Matt Fisher has earned his maiden Test call-up in Jamieson’s absence.
New Zealand squad for Zimbabwe Tests
Tom Latham (c), Tom Blundell (wk), Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Matt Fisher, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Will O'Rourke, Ajaz Patel, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Nathan Smith, Will Young
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